Software maker ArtfulBits on Friday released an add-on for Microsoft Outlook that's designed to notify users about changes in Microsoft Exchange Public Folders and view the status of unread e-mail.

The add-on, called Public Folder Watcher 1.52.0, is meant to be installed on machines running Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, and works with Microsoft Outlook 2000 or later versions. The software shows up as a notification window next to the system tray and pops up automatically every 20 minutes, or other custom time intervals, displaying a list of folders in the Outlook in-box and Public Folders that contain unread e-mail.

Public Folders are created within Microsoft Exchange Servers to share contacts, calendars, and other information.

Public Folder Watcher has been integrated with Outlook and uses multithreaded technology so that performance is not compromised. The add-on performs functions similar to Outlook e-mail notifications, but it can more easily track various e-mail folders than the native Outlook feature, according to ArtfulBits. It's especially useful for those who utilize Public Folders.

In some instances when the network connection is slow or when a user is accessing the network through a VPN, Public Folder Watcher can automatically stop monitoring folders.

The latest version also supports group policies, and users -- including managers, analysts, and tech support specialists -- have the ability to disable unnecessary folders.

ArtfulBits, the company offering Public Folder Watcher, is a 50-employee offshore software developer based in Ukraine. The company outsources services to clients in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Public Folder Watcher is available immediately and is priced at $15 per license.

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